U.S. patent number 8,919,603 [Application Number 12/377,288] was granted by the patent office on 2014-12-30 for detachable handle for a drinking device.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Learning Curve Brands, Inc.. The grantee listed for this patent is Brian M. Greene. Invention is credited to Brian M. Greene.
United States Patent |
8,919,603 |
Greene |
December 30, 2014 |
Detachable handle for a drinking device
Abstract
A detachable handle for a child's sippy cup. The sippy cup
includes a cup portion and a lid portion coupled to the cup
portion. The lid portion includes a drinking spout having
apertures. The detachable handle includes a ring portion that
engages the lid and/or the cup portion, and a pair of grasping
portions that extend axially and radially away from the ring
portion. Hook portions are radially aligned with, and extend
axially opposite the grasping portions, and are engageable with an
upper surface of the lid portion. Moving the grasping portions
radially inwardly causes the hook portions to move radially
outwardly for disengagement from the upper surface and removal of
the handle from the sippy cup.
Inventors: |
Greene; Brian M. (North Easton,
MA) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Greene; Brian M. |
North Easton |
MA |
US |
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Assignee: |
Learning Curve Brands, Inc.
(Dyersville, IA)
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Family
ID: |
39158103 |
Appl.
No.: |
12/377,288 |
Filed: |
September 7, 2007 |
PCT
Filed: |
September 07, 2007 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/US2007/077901 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
February 12, 2009 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO2008/031046 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
March 13, 2008 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20100213206 A1 |
Aug 26, 2010 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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60825043 |
Sep 8, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
220/752; 215/396;
294/31.1; 294/29; 294/16; 220/756; 220/769; 294/30; 220/772;
220/757; 294/33; 220/754 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G
23/0216 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
25/10 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;220/752,754,756,757,769,772 ;294/29,30,31.1,33 ;215/396 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
International Search Report and Written Opinion, PCT/US07/77901,
mailed Mar. 4, 2008. cited by applicant .
Canadian Office action for Canadian Application No. 2661846 dated
Sep. 10, 2013. cited by applicant .
Canadian Office action for Canadian Application No. 2661846 dated
May 29, 2013. cited by applicant .
Canadian Office action for Canadian Application No. 2661846 dated
Jun. 6, 2014. cited by applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Volz; Elizabeth
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Michael Best & Friedrich
LLP
Parent Case Text
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the benefit and priority of U.S.
Provisional Patent Application No. 60/825,043, filed Sep. 8, 2006.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A detachable handle for a child's drinking container, the handle
comprising: a ring portion defining an axis and adapted to receive
the drinking container; a pair of hook portions depending from the
ring portion; and a pair of grasping portions depending from the
ring portion, wherein the hook portions move in response to
movement of the grasping portions to afford detachment of the
handle from the drinking container, wherein the hook portions move
radially away from the axis in response to movement of the grasping
portions radially toward the axis.
2. The detachable handle of claim 1, wherein the ring portion is
substantially circular.
3. The detachable handle of claim 1, wherein the hook portions are
substantially opposed to one another relative to the axis, and
wherein each grasping portions is substantially aligned with a
respective one of the hook portions.
4. The detachable handle of claim 1, wherein the ring portion
includes an arcuate cross section and defines an inwardly facing
concave surface and an outwardly facing convex surface, and wherein
the grasping portions extend axially from the outwardly facing
convex surface.
5. The detachable handle of claim 1, wherein the ring portion
includes an upper edge, wherein the hook portions depend
substantially axially from the upper edge, and wherein the grasping
portions depend substantially axially from the ring portion in a
direction opposite the hook portions.
6. The detachable handle of claim 5, wherein each hook portion
includes a radially inwardly extending lip.
7. The detachable handle of claim 5, wherein the ring portion
includes a lower edge, the handle further comprising a pair of
flange portions, each flange portion extending axially from a
respective portion of the lower edge between the hook portions.
8. The detachable handle of claim 7, wherein each flange portion
includes a varying axial length that is shortest adjacent the hook
portions.
9. A child's drinking container comprising: a cup defining an
opening and an axis, the cup including a rim at an upper end
thereof, the rim having an outer surface and an inner surface
defining a recess at least partially around the upper end of the
cup; a lid removably coupled to the rim of the cup to overlie the
opening, the lid defining a drinking portion; and a handle
removably coupled to at least one of the cup and the lid, wherein
when the handle is coupled to at least one of the cup and the lid,
the handle substantially prevents removal of the lid from the cup,
wherein the handle includes a ring portion that substantially
surrounds the opening, a hook portion extending axially from the
ring portion and engaging the lid, and a grasping portion extending
axially from the ring in a direction opposite the hook portion, and
wherein the hook portion moves radially away from the axis in
response to movement of the grasping portion radially toward the
axis, thereby at least partially disengaging the hook portion from
the lid.
10. The child's drinking container of claim 9, wherein the handle
is rotatable about the axis when the handle is coupled to at least
one of the cup and the lid.
11. The child's drinking container of claim 9, wherein the handle
is removable while the lid is coupled to the cup.
12. The child's drinking container of claim 9, wherein the handle
is a single piece and is formed of a flexible, resilient material,
and wherein the handle is coupled to and removed from at least one
of the cup and the lid by deforming the handle.
13. The child's drinking container of claim 9, wherein the lid is
coupled to the cup along an interface, and wherein when the handle
is coupled to at least one of the cup and the lid, a first portion
of the handle engages the lid on one side of the interface, and a
second portion of the handle engages at least one of the cup and
the lid on a second side of the interface.
14. The child's drinking container of claim 13, wherein the first
portion of the handle includes a pair of hook portions, and the
second portion of the handle includes an engagement surface.
15. The child's drinking container of claim 14, wherein the handle
includes an annular ring portion that defines the engagement
surface, and that substantially surrounds the interface when the
handle is coupled to at least one of the cup and the lid, and
wherein the hook portions extend substantially axially from the
annular ring portion and are substantially diametrically opposed to
one another.
16. The child's drinking container of claim 15, wherein the handle
includes a pair of grasping portions extending from the annular
ring portion.
17. The child's drinking container of claim 16, wherein each
grasping portion is substantially radially aligned with a
respective one of the hook portions, and wherein movement of the
grasping portions relative to the axis causes radially outward
movement of the hook portions to afford coupling and removal of the
handle.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present application relates generally to drinking devices and
more specifically to drinking devices adapted for use by children,
such as those sometimes referred to as "sippy cups."
During the early years, when children are transitioning from
drinking out of bottles to drinking out of cups, many parents have
come to appreciate the benefits of so-called "sippy cups." Sippy
cups are drinking devices that include a cup portion that holds a
beverage, and a lid portion covering the cup portion. The lid
portion may be detachable from the cup portion and is provided with
a drinking spout. The drinking spout often includes holes, slots,
or other flow-limiting features. The flow-limiting features reduce
the amount of spilling that occurs if the sippy cup becomes
inverted or is otherwise overturned, but allow liquid flow for
drinking when suction is applied to the drinking spout.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one embodiment, the invention provides a child's drinking
container including a cup, a lid, and a handle. The cup includes a
mouth defining an opening. The lid is removably coupled to the cup
to overlie the opening, and defines a drinking portion. The handle
is removably coupled to at least one of the cup and the lid, and is
removable therefrom while the lid is coupled to the cup.
In another embodiment, the invention provides a detachable handle
for a child's drinking container. The handle includes a ring
portion that defines an axis and that is adapted to receive the
drinking container. The handle also includes a pair of hook
portions that depend from the ring portion, and a pair of grasping
portions that also depend from the ring portion. The hook portions
move in response to movement of the grasping portions to afford
detachment of the handle from the drinking container.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a detachable handle for a child's
drinking device.
FIG. 2 is a side view of the detachable handle of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a top view of the detachable handle of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of child's drinking device including
the detachable handle of FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is an alternate perspective view looking up from the bottom
of the cup of the child's drinking device of FIG. 4, including the
detachable handle of FIG. 1.
FIG. 6 is a top view of the child's drinking device of FIG. 4,
including the detachable handle of FIG. 1.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the detachable handle in a deformed
condition.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the child's drinking device of FIG.
4, including the detachable handle of FIG. 1, and showing the
detachable handle in a partially attached position.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the child's drinking device of FIG.
4, including the detachable handle of FIG. 1, with a lid portion
removed.
Before at least one embodiment of the invention is explained in
detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in
its application to the details of construction and the arrangements
of the components set forth in the following description or
illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other
embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various
ways.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to FIGS. 1-3 and 7, a detachable handle 10 for a child's
sippy cup is illustrated. The handle 10 includes an annular ring
portion 14 that defines a central axis 18. The ring portion 14 has
an arcuate cross-section substantially in the form of a
quarter-circle. The ring portion 14 defines an upper edge 22, and a
lower edge 26. An upwardly and radially inwardly facing concave
inner surface 30, and a downwardly and radially outwardly facing
convex outer surface 34 extend between the upper and lower edges
22, 26.
Grasping portions 38 extend axially downwardly and radially
outwardly from the outer surface 34. The grasping portions 38 are
substantially diametrically opposed from one another with respect
to the central axis 18. The illustrated grasping portions 38 have a
substantially semi-circular cross section, however the grasping
portions 38 can take on substantially any suitable form including
cylindrical, semi-cylindrical, rectangular, and the like. Flange
portions 46 (best illustrated in FIG. 2) extend generally axially
downwardly from the lower edge 26. The flange portions 46 have a
varying axial length about the circumference of the lower edge 26
and are configured such that the axial length is shortest adjacent
the grasping portions 38, and longest at a position approximately
mid-way between the grasping portions 38. The variable axial length
of the flange portions 46 provide a variable stiffness about the
ring portion 14, which in turn provides for variable deformation of
the ring portion 14 during attachment and detachment of the handle
10 and the sippy cup, as discussed further below. While a variety
of materials may be suitable for construction of the handle 10, the
use of a poly-propylene, such as px617, is particularly appropriate
because it provides adequate durability, strength, resilience,
flexibility, and ease of cleaning.
The handle 10 also includes a pair of hook portions 50. The hook
portions 50 extend substantially axially from the upper edge 22
and, in the illustrated construction, are substantially radially
aligned with the grasping portions 38. The hook portions 50 are
substantially diametrically opposed from one another with respect
to the central axis 18. Each hook portion 50 includes a radially
inwardly extending lip 54. When the handle 10 is attached to the
sippy cup, the lips 54 and the inner surface 30 engage the sippy
cup and cooperate to limit movement of the handle 10 with respect
to the sippy cup in the axial direction, as discussed further
below. The handle 10 is deformable such that movement of the
grasping portions 38 radially inwardly toward the central axis 18
causes the hook portions 50 and inwardly extending lips 54 to move
radially outwardly, away from the central axis 18, as indicated by
the arrows in FIG. 7.
Referring also to FIGS. 4-6 and 8, the handle 10 is illustrated
coupled to an exemplary form of a child's sippy cup. The sippy cup
includes a lower cup portion 58 and an upper lid portion 62. The
cup portion 58 is configured to contain a beverage, and the lid
portion 62 is detachably engageable with the cup portion 58 at an
interface 66. In the illustrated construction, the interface 66 is
configured to provide a sealing, snap fit engagement between the
cup portion 58 and lid portion 62 such that when the lid portion 62
is coupled to the cup portion 58, the interface 66 is substantially
leak-proof.
The lid portion 62 includes an upper surface 68 and a drinking
portion in the form of a spout 70. In the illustrated construction,
the upper surface 68 is convex and substantially annular. It should
be appreciated however that the upper surface can take on a variety
of shapes and forms depending upon, among other things, the
configuration of the interface 66 and the lid portion 62. The
illustrated drinking spout 70 extends generally axially away from
the cup portion 58, however in alternative constructions the
drinking spout 70 may be defined by one or more recesses formed in
the lid portion 62.
The illustrated drinking spout 70 includes an end 74 that defines a
plurality of apertures 78 (see FIG. 6) through which the beverage
flows when suction is applied to the end 74 of the drinking spout
70. It should be appreciated that the upper surface 68, the
apertures 78 and the drinking spout 70 can be configured and
adapted to function in a variety of ways, and that the illustrated
construction of the upper surface 68, the apertures 78, and
drinking spout 70 should not be regarded as limiting with respect
to the present invention.
As illustrated in FIGS. 4-6, when the handle 10 is coupled to the
sippy cup, the cup portion 58 extends axially through the ring
portion 14, the interface 66 is substantially surrounded by the
ring portion 14, and the lips 54 of the hook portions 50 engage the
upper surface 68 of the lid portion 62. More specifically,
engagement between the lips 54 and the upper surface 68 limits
axial movement of the handle 10 with respect to the cup and lid
portions 58, 62 in a first direction (e.g. downwardly when the cup
portion 58 is resting upon a support surface). Similarly,
engagement between the inner surface 30 and at least one of the cup
portion 58 and the lid portion 62 below and/or substantially
adjacent to the interface 66 limits axial movement of the handle 10
in a second, opposite direction (e.g. upwardly when the cup portion
58 is resting on a support surface). Thus, the cup and lid portions
58, 62 are firmly grasped between the hook portions 50 and the
inner surface 30 of the handle 10 along the interface 66 to
detachably secure the handle 10 to the cup and lid portions 58, 62.
Furthermore, when the handle 10 is coupled to the cup and lid
portions 58, 62, the lid portion 62 generally cannot be removed
from the cup portion 58.
In the illustrated construction, the handle 10 is rotatable with
respect to the cup and lid portions 58, 62, about the central axis
18. However, other constructions can include ribs or grooves
provided along one or both of the cup portion 58 and the lid
portion 62 for engagement with the handle 10 to prevent or limit
rotation of the handle 10 about the central axis 18. In addition,
alternative constructions of the handle 10 may include a plurality
of radially spaced apart ribs extending axially inwardly from the
inner surface 30. The ribs may include upper surfaces extending
substantially perpendicular to the central axis 18 and spaced a
distance from the upper edge 22 of the ring portion 14. In this
alternative construction, the upper surfaces of the ribs engage at
least one of the cup portion 58 and the lid portion 62 instead of
the inner surface 30.
To detach the handle 10 from the cup and lid portions 58, 62, the
grasping portions 38 are urged radially inwardly toward the central
axis 18. Urging the grasping portions 38 in this manner causes the
handle 10 to deform such that the hook portions 50 move radially
outwardly (see FIG. 7). While the deflection of the ring portion 14
and the precise movements of the hook portions 50 and grasping
portions 38 are more complex, the grasping portions 38 and the hook
portions 50 generally pivot about the lower edge 26 of the ring
portion 14, where the axial lengths of the respective flange
portions 46 are at a minimum. As the hook portions 50 move radially
outwardly, the lips 54 move out of engagement with the upper
surface 68 of the lid portion 62 such that the handle 10 can be
removed from the cup and lid portions 58, 62 by moving the handle
10 axially downward toward the cup portion 58. As illustrated in
FIG. 8, detachment of one of the lips 54 may occur before
detachment of the other of the lips 54, such that movement of the
handle 10 is generally, though not exclusively axial. As the handle
10 is moved axially downward, both lips 54 pass by the interface 66
until the handle 10 is completely disengaged from both the cup
portion 58 and the lid portion 62.
To engage the handle 10 with the sippy cup, the grasping portions
38 are urged radially inwardly toward the central axis 18, thereby
moving the hook portions 50 radially away from the central axis 18
and one another (see FIG. 7). With the inner surface 30 facing the
cup portion 58, the cup portion 58 is extended through the ring
portion 58 such that the interface 66 is received by the ring
portion 14. With the grasping portions 38 held radially inwardly
and the hook portions 50 spaced radially outwardly, the handle 10
is maneuvered such that hook portions 50 move axially past the
interface 66, and such that such at least one of the cup portion 58
and the lid portion 62 engages the inner surface 30. As illustrated
in FIG. 8, one of the hook portions 54 can be engaged with the
upper surface of the lid portion 68 before the other hook portion
is moved past the interface 66. The grasping portions 38 are then
released and move radially outwardly as the ring portion 14 returns
to a non-deformed shape, due at least in part to the resiliency of
its construction material. As the grasping portions 38 move
radially outwardly, the hook portions 50 move radially inwardly and
the lips 54 engage the upper surface 68 of the lid portion 62. As
discussed above, engagement between the lips 54 and the upper
surface 68, along with engagement between the inner surface 30 and
the cup portion 58 and/or the lid portion 62, substantially
prevents axial movement of the handle 10 with respect to the sippy
cup.
Referring also to FIG. 9, the handle 10 can also be attached to the
cup portion 58 when the lid portion 62 is removed. In the
illustrated construction, the cup portion 58 includes an upper
surface 72 configured similarly to the upper surface 68 of the lid
portion 62. When the lid portion 62 is removed from the cup portion
10, the handle 10 can be attached and detached from the cup portion
10 in substantially the same manner as discussed above. When the
lid portion 62 is removed, the lips 54 of the handle 10 engage the
upper surface 72 of the cup portion 58, instead of the upper
surface 68 of the lid portion 62, to substantially prevent downward
axial movement of the handle 10 with respect to the cup portion
58.
Although particular constructions of the present invention have
been shown and described, other alternative constructions will be
apparent to those skilled in the art and are within the intended
scope of the present invention.
* * * * *